Interoperability Standards
Interoperability standards are formal specifications, protocols, or guidelines that enable different systems, software, or devices to communicate, exchange data, and work together seamlessly. They define common rules and formats to ensure compatibility across diverse technologies, often developed by standards organizations like ISO, W3C, or IETF. This concept is critical in fields such as healthcare, finance, and IoT, where disparate systems must integrate without proprietary barriers.
Developers should learn interoperability standards when building systems that need to interface with external services, legacy systems, or multi-vendor environments, such as in enterprise software, APIs, or cross-platform applications. They ensure data consistency, reduce integration costs, and future-proof solutions by adhering to widely accepted norms, like using HTTP/REST for web APIs or HL7/FHIR in healthcare IT.